Sock puppets
Make sock puppets to support creativity, language development, communication and social skills, and fine-motor coordination. Whānau can role play experiences with tamariki, exploring feelings like compassion, empathy, frustration and care.
Why do it?
Making and playing with puppets gives tamariki an opportunity to:
- use their imagination to create characters and tell or retell stories about them
- strengthen fine motor skills through cutting, drawing, sticking or gluing
- develop language skills through pretend play
- work and play with others
- engage in a fun activity using everyday items
- give single socks a new life!
How to do it
You'll need:
- some adult-sized socks
- felt tips or stickers
- wool for hair
- needle and thread
- buttons for eyes
- scraps of material for clothing.
Make the puppets:
- Use felt tips to draw eyes, a nose and a mouth on light coloured socks. Stitch them on if socks are dark.
- Wool can be glued or stitched on for hair and/or whiskers.
- Scraps of fabric can be wrapped around as scarves, cloaks and skirts for the puppets.
Play ideas:
- Use your sock like a glove, putting your thumb in the heel and fingers in the toe.
- Give your sock puppet a name.
- Use the puppets to act out family activities (shopping, visiting and going to the park) and/or stories you have shared.
- Have your puppets sing a song!
- Use your puppets to chat about your favourite things.
Using more te reo Māori
| Te reo Māori | English |
|---|---|
| Keretao | Puppet |
| Tōkena | Sock |
| Kiripuaki | Character |
| Wūru | Wool |
| Tui(a) | To sew |
| Pātene | Button |
| Kākahu | Clothes |
| Kanohi | Face |
| Whatu | Eyes |
| Taringa | Ear |
| Waha | Mouth |
| Ngutu | Lip |
| Makawe | Hair |
| Menemene | Smile |
| Waiata | To sing/song |
| Ingoa | Name |
| Kōnui | Thumb |
| I mahia e ia hē kāretao mai te tōkena | She made a puppet from a sock |
| Ko wai tēnei? | Who's this? |
| Ko Mita tēnei | This is Mita |
| Ko wai te ingoa o tō keretao? | What's your puppet's name? |
| Kei hea tana kāinga? | Where does she live? |
| Kei te haere ia ki whea? | Where is she going? |
| Kei te haere ia ki te toa hokomaha | He's going to the supermarket |
